Orbital trauma can result in periorbital and orbital infections. Orbital infections have been classified by Chandler et al in 1970 to their anatomic location and boundaries. This case report describes a patient who developed a severe orbital infection following orbital fractures. The infection progressed to the parapharyngeal space. The patient required multiple incision and drainage surgeries and tissue debridements to have clinical resolution. To our knowledge, there has not been a case described in the literature of an orbital infection progressing to the parapharyngeal space. A literature review of orbital trauma leading to infection discusses the pathogenesis of the infections. This case demonstrates that close clinical follow-up and appropriate medical management of comorbidities that put a patient at higher risk of developing an infection is of the utmost importance in the treatment of maxillofacial trauma patients.
Keywords: diabetes; infection; orbital trauma; parapharyngeal space.